Backers of same-sex marriage rally in Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ -- Supporters of same-sex marriage gathered in downtown Santa Cruz Wednesday evening to rally for "Lighting the Way to Justice for Marriage Equality."

A crowd of about 200 people, many clad in red, gathered on the steps of Santa Cruz County Superior Court to listen to speakers, then marched to the Town Clock. The event followed two days of arguments about gay marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The event was sponsored by the GLBT Alliance of Santa Cruz County and The Diversity Center.

Laura McCann and her wife Chrissann McCann said they were motivated to attend the rally in support of freedom to marry for all.

"We just want the same rights as everyone else," Laura McCann said.

The two committed themselves to each other during a wedding ceremony in 2007, and entered into a civil union in Vermont later that year. In 2008, when gay marriages were legal in California, they wed for the third time. Despite that, their marriage is not recognized by the federal government, causing them expensive hassles. The health care benefits Chrissann receives through Laura's job at UC Santa Cruz are considered taxable income, and cost the couple $800 annually in taxes. The pair spent about $1,000 to merge their last names after they wed, and are forced to file federal income taxes separately.

"There are no rights that are automatic for us," Laura said.

Same-sex couples were not the only couples upset with the inequities. Lisa Chandley, who attended the rally with her husband Sean Collins, said they came to support the right of their gay friends to marry.

"I'm not feeling all that well, but I wanted to make an appearance," Chandley said from her wheelchair. "I want to let people know that they're loved and that I love them as well."

The nation's highest court took on the issue of gay marriage for the first time on Tuesday when it heard arguments regarding the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage. California voters approved Proposition 8 in 2008 to ban gay marriages. A U.S. District Court ruled that ban was unconstitutional in 2008, and the U.S. 9th Court of Appeals made the same decision in 2012.

Wednesday, the nine justices heard arguments about the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal benefits to same-sex couples. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton who has reversed his position on the issue and publicly disavowed his decision this month.

The Supreme Court ruling is expected by June and the decision has national implications. The Supreme Court could rule that same-sex marriages are constitutional in all 50 states, or leave that decision to individual states. Although there has been a lot of speculation on how the court will rule, many at the rally are optimistic that same-sex marriages will be allowed eventually.

"It's inevitable that equality will happen," said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Neal Coonerty, who attended the rally to show his support, adding that he hopes the decision will come sooner rather than later. "There's been a change of public opinion (on same-sex marriages) as well as legal challenges over the past 20 years."

Support for gay marriage is even stronger in Santa Cruz County, where more than 70 percent of the voters opposed Proposition 8, which banned gay marriages.

Currently gay marriage is legal in nine states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington -- and the District of Columbia. Eight other states, including California, allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships. Same-sex marriages are banned in 37 states.

The rally was planned by the GLBT Alliance of Santa Cruz County and the Diversity Center.

Gay marriages were legal briefly in San Francisco when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples in 2004. More than 18,000 same-sex marriages were performed before California voters approved Prop. 8.